Baker Lifestyle | Jive

Jive is a textured velvet from Baker Lifestyle's Carnival Velvets book, woven with a small structure, 3 centimetres by 7, that gives the pile a subtle relief rather than a flat, single-level surface. It has the soft, slightly crushed hand typical of a viscose-rich velvet, with a warm depth of colour. The small-scale structure reads almost as a fine cord from across a room, resolving into texture only up close.

The composition is 75 per cent viscose and 25 per cent polyester, woven 137 centimetres wide, with a 3 centimetre vertical and 7 centimetre horizontal repeat. Baker Lifestyle test it to 50,000 rubs on the Martindale, a strong figure for a velvet of this kind, and it is rated for curtains, loose and fixed upholstery and bedspreads. One colourway, Ochre, a warm, spiced yellow that reads as a genuine colour rather than a muted neutral.

At 50,000 rubs we are happy to put Jive on a sofa or a pair of armchairs in daily use, and the warmth of Ochre works particularly well against navy, bottle green or a warm cream scheme. It also makes a generous, full-length curtain where the room can take the colour, or a warm, tactile footstool where you want the colour close at hand. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

Match the texture across every seam on upholstery, particularly on a sofa front border, and allow one extra repeat per drop on curtains. Velvet of this weight should be steamed rather than pressed with a hot iron, and brushed with the pile to keep the surface even. Dry clean only, and keep it out of strong, direct sun.

• Composition: 75% viscose, 25% polyester
• Width: 137 cm (54 in)
• Pattern repeat: 3 cm vertical, 7 cm horizontal
• Abrasion resistance: 50,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Suitable for: Curtains, blinds, loose and fixed upholstery
• Care: Professional dry clean only; do not wash, bleach or iron
• Collection: Carnival, Baker Lifestyle
• Colourways: 1 (Ochre)